Summary of the report on “Freedom of the Media in the Arab Countries” 2008
Introduction
For four consecutive years, the Amman Center for Human Rights Studies [ACHRS] has been issuing its annual report on the state of press freedom in the Arab countries. These reports are compiled through voluntary and personal efforts without funding by any local or international party.
There are three conditions for the press to be free, and the first is the right of the journalist to acquire, receive and disseminate information. These conditions are contained in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on the Civil and Political Rights as well as Article 32 of the Arab Charter of Human Rights, which was enforced early last year.
The conclusion of this fourth annual report is that countries like Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates enjoy a higher degree of press freedom in comparison with other Arab countries while Saudi Arabia, Syria and Libya had a very low degree of press freedom.
